10 Ways to Make Millions on YouTube

What do the following social media millionaires have in common (aside from being very rich)? They leveraged the popularity of their homemade YouTube channels into money-minting, multi-dimensional businesses.

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Felix Arvid Ulf Kjellberg (aka PewDiePie)

Businesses: His channel alone earns an estimated $7.5 million a year. This year, he launched Revelmode, a video production, game development and merchandise network backed by Disney. He’s also the author of the best-selling book This Book Loves You.

He said it: “Don’t be a salad. Be the best damn broccoli you could ever be.”

2 / 10

Shay Carl Butler (aka ShayCarl)

Known for: Chronicling the misadventures of his family the “Shaytards”

Net worth: $53 million

Businesses: Three YouTube channels with more than 6 million subscribers. Co-founder of Maker Studios, a multichannel network purchased by Disney for $500 million. Owns Trixin, an online clothing company.

He said it: “It's not about finding out who you are, it's about creating who you are.”

3 / 10

Ian Hecox and Anthony Padilla (aka Smosh)

Known for: Singing and joking their way into YouTube megastardom with 22 million subscribers and 5 billion views

Lindsey Stirling

Businesses: Sold 350,000 copies of her debut album on her own label -- Lindseystomp Music (she’s now signed to Universal). Her second album debuted at number two on the Billboard chart. She’s done two sold-out World Tours.

She said it: “The only reason I am successful is because I have stayed true to myself.”

He said it: “It’s very easy to underestimate the amount of effort it takes to take something from 98 percent to 100 percent. That last 2 percent takes a tremendous amount of time and resources just to get that to a level that you are satisfied with.”

7 / 10

Benny and Rafi Fine (aka TheFineBrothers)

Known for: Their “React” video series, which feature kids, teens, adults and even pets reacting to pop culture